A few weeks ago, President Obama announced the POWER+ Plan for the FY 2016 budget that prioritizes opportunities for economic diversification and development in coalfield communities, creating a large buzz (see News Updates below). This budget proposal is a step toward recognition for the potential for new and just economies to thrive in Central Appalachia, but it is far from the beginning of the conversation. Workers, state officials, community groups, political heads–people across Central Appalachia have been asking for years: “What’s next for our region as the coal economy declines?”
That question will be explored in an upcoming whitepaper from our Economic Transition team that looks at the Abandoned Mine Lands fund’s potential to help revitalize local economies while mitigating dangerous environmental conditions left behind from old coal mines.
This timely project is a culmination of research led by Eric Dixon and Kendall Bilbrey, AppFellows working with The Alliance for Appalachia’s Economic Transition team, Appalachian Citizen’s Law Center, and the Highlander Center.
On April 2nd, The Alliance for Appalachia and Appalachian Citizens Law Center will co-host an Abandoned Mine Lands Summit and training–to work with community leaders from Kentucky, West Virginia, Tennessee, and Virginia to learn about the Fund, the findings of the whitepaper, and to explore how we as a region can begin to advocate for these important changes.
To support this important work, or to help us provide scholarships to community members who wish to attend the spring summit to learn more about these issues, donate here!
Upcoming Strategy Meetings
Now is the time for us to work together to push the Obama administration for urgent action to protect mountain communities from the impacts of mountaintop removal and to begin planning for a sustainable future for Appalachia.
In the next month, The Alliance will be hosting several strategy meetings as we map out the course of our year. On March 11th, we’ll be hosting a national strategy meeting in Washington, DC. We invite representatives from our member groups, other regional stakeholders, and national allies to join us in aligning our efforts.
March 31st-April 1st will be our Spring Steering Meeting; it is an opportunity for our member groups to gather to share work updates, set strategies and build our regional work. For more information about any of these upcoming meetings, contact Samantha@TheAllianceforAppalachia.org
Updates from the Movement:
Appalachian Leaders Travel to Extreme Energy Extraction Summit
Leaders working to end mountaintop removal attended the Extreme Energy Extraction Summit, an opportunity to network and learn from environmental justice leaders from across the US and across many issues. Daile Boulis, a volunteer with OVEC and the Kanawha Forest coalition who took the photo above, has written up the event here, if you’d like to learn more about the powerful toxic tour participants took that showed the continuing devastation of the BP OIl Disaster and other severe environmental justice issues experienced in the Gulf South – as well as the inspiring local leaders who are working to stop these poisonous industries.
Upcoming Mountain Justice Camps
Mark your calendars for these engaging camps which provide information on mountaintop removal and a variety of ways to take action against it.
The 2015 Mountain Justice Summer Convergence will be held in beautiful Kanawha State Forest, just south of Charleston WV, from Saturday May 30 through Sunday, June 7. The Convergence is held in conjunction with the Kanawha Forest Coalition, a citizens’ group which is opposing a mining permit for a new mine adjacent to Kanawha State Forest.
The Mountain Justice Summer Convergence will have a variety of workshops, site tours and hikes during the day, based on an “Unconference” model, which will allow the camp to be flexible and more spontaneous. The camp will evolve throughout the week based on the input and feedback of the camp participants. Evening activities will include speakers, a panel discussion with members of the Kanawha Forest Coalition, live music and dancing. Tent camping is available and all meals will be cooked on site by a kitchen collective.The event is low-cost and accessible to most budgets. The 2015 Mountain Justice Summer Convergence is intended to be meeting of minds, broad-based, a regional gathering open to everyone in the coal, climate and energy movement. For more information and to register, go to www.mountainjustice.org
Kentucky Celebrates Ten Years of I Love Mountains Day!
Hundreds braved the frigid weather for an inspiring day in Frankfort, KY. The day focused on building New Power in the region for a just transition. As Teri Blanton said during the event, “We understand that there can’t be a climate movement over here, a racial justice movement over there, and a just economy movement somewhere else. We get the connections. We live in those intersections. We know that we are all in this together.” Read more on the KFTC Blog!
ACHE Act Introduced into US House of Representatives
Congressman John Yarmuth (KY-3) and Congresswoman Louise Slaughter (NY-25) reintroduced the Appalachian Community Health Emergency Act, legislation that would require the first comprehensive federal study of the health dangers of mountaintop removal coal mining. The ACHE Act, H.R. 912, would place a moratorium on all new mountaintop removal mining permits while federal officials examine health consequences to surrounding communities. Learn more about the bill and the campaign here.
SOCM Members Fight a Coal Ash Landfill
SOCM Members rallied against dangerous proposed changes to the TVA Kingston Coal Ash landfill. This area is still experiencing toxic after effects of the 2008 coal ash disaster. The ground beneath the proposed Kingston coal ash landfill features sinkholes, cavernous bedrock, and rapid groundwater flow. All the groundwater beneath the landfill eventually flows into the Clinch River, according to a geologic study of the proposal! Learn more about the community’s work on SOCM’s blog and in thisnews article. One community event was the documentary showing pictured below.
Federal Court Finds Fola Violated the Clean Water Act Thanks to a lawsuit led by citizen groups West Virginia Highlands Conservancy, Sierra Club and Ohio Valley Environmental Coalition represented byPublic Justice and Appalachian Mountain Advocates, Fola’s water violations have been noted, despite the lack of enforcement from state agencies.
Citizens Fight WV Legislature Efforts to Rollback Water Regulations
Despite the 2014 Water Crisis, when a coal chemical spill crippled the Charleston economy and left 300,000 people without access to clean water, the WV Legislature is looking to reduce water protections.
